CHAPTER 8 revision done!
Yes, I finished another one. It terrified me that laziness might win me over but yey, here it is.
Enjoy reading!
A week has passed since Mikan had that conversation with Natsume and Natsuki as persistent as he is, has been pestering her to visit Natsume. It's not like she wanted to deprive her son to spend time with Natsume, it's just that Natsume might not feel the same. She wanted to make sure that Natsume would not hurt Natsuki.
Days dragged on and still Natsuki kept asking. The days went on like these…
1st day: "Mommy? Can we see daddy?"
2nd day: "Mommy? Do you think daddy is at the office?"
3rd day: "Mommy? I miss daddy, don't you? Do you think we can see him?"
4th day: "Mommy? Let us see daddy, please?"
5th day: "Mommy? Can I go visit him by myself since you don't want to?"
But on the 5th day, Ruka called. "Ruka, hi."
"Hello Mikan." He sounded chirpy. "Everything going well?" he asked, knowing full well what had happened.
"I can't really say. Natsuki has become really grumpy these past days." Mikan replied, sighing. "Maybe it was better if we didn't go see him."
"What do you mean?" Ruka asked. "Still wanting to see Natsume?"
"Yes and it's getting on my nerve since I don't really want to disappoint him."
"Why don't you let me talk to him?" Ruka suggested.
Mikan handed the phone to Natsuki, "It's Uncle Ruka and he wants to talk to you." The little boy took the phone to his ear and listened quietly. Mikan can't hear their conversation, all she can see was her son nodding and smiling. Then, she heard him say goodbye and handed the phone back to his mother with a grin on his face.
And ever since that call, Natsuki suddenly stopped asking to see Natsume. Suspicious, right?
"Since Natsuki talked with Ruka that day, he never asked me again. Hmm…something is fishy." Mikan thought. "What could have Ruka said?" Mikan thought and thought. And decided that as long it stops him from being moody then it's all great.
"Mommy? What are you thinking?" Natsuki asked noticing the serious look his mother had on.
"Huh? Oh, nothing." Mikan shook her head and got up from where she was sitting. "Natsuki, why don't you get prepared? We will be going to Auntie Hotaru's today, remember?"
"So Hotaru, what are you planning to do?" Ruka asked, curious how she was going to help Natsume with this.
"Just something." Hotaru replied nonchalantly with no intention telling him. She was afraid Ruka might just blow it all for he has that kind of specialty.
"I am really shocked that you actually are helping him, really." Ruka chuckled. "I bet he was as shocked as I was when you offered." Imagining Natsume's possible reactions.
Ding! Dong! The doorbell rang. There was the mother and the son, Mikan and Natsuki.
"Hi." Mikan and Natsuki greeted as they walked inside the apartment.
The apartment speaks of Hotaru. She loved neatness and preferred neutral color which showed in her home. Both ways it was beautiful and Hotaru has very good taste and sophistication Mikan couldn't possibly display. It had furniture and geometrical interiors. The atmosphere of the room was cozy and reminds Mikan of their dorm room they used to share.
"Is there anything I can do?" Mikan approached Ruka who was busy peeling potatoes. Ruka was wearing a colored apron with his bangs kept with a clip.
"Sure, can you prepare those crabs?" Ruka instructed. "They are Hotaru's fave so we better not mess it up." He smiled.
"Of course. She's scary if will mess this up." Mikan laughed. "Ever since I knew her, she still loves these. She hasn't changed." She said as she reached for an apron.
She peeked at the living room and saw Hotaru watching over the little boy who was busy watching the television. "Is Hotaru okay? She seems to be preoccupied with something." Mikan asked Ruka noticing Hotaru.
"I-I-don't know." Ruka stuttered. He was afraid he might blurt out something unnecessary.
Mikan didn't pursue the topic any longer and focused on the cooking. Then the doorbell rang. She gave Ruka a questioning look and Ruka just shrugged his shoulders.
"I'll get it." Hotaru informed them and she got up to open the door and there he was, the person she was waiting for.
"Hello, Hyuuga." She greeted first.
"Imai." Natsume acknowledged.
Behind Hotaru a voice shouted, "Daddy!" He ran toward him excitedly.
"Natsuki" Natsume said, surprised to see his son. He gave Hotaru a look and she looked back at him and there he got the message. This was one of Hotaru's way of helping.
"So Mikan's here." He thought as he looked around and saw no one else. "I bet Imai didn't tell her to. But this little boy seems to have an idea." Natsume was happy and amused.
Natsuki couldn't stop the grin from showing since after days of wanting to see his daddy, he was finally here and was gently carrying him on his arms.
"Natsuki, be careful…" Mikan followed her son as she saw him ran to the door but she stopped seeing who Natsuki was with.
"Mommy, daddy's here." Natsuki smiled happily, leaning his head on Natsume's shoulder sweetly.
"Mikan" he called her name, the relief escaping from his voice. He wanted to see her so badly to explain things better and clear out the misunderstanding but it always seemed like that there was always something stopping him from doing so.
Mikan didn't say anything. She didn't expect another guest and moreover, she didn't expect to see Natsume Hyuuga again. After a couple of seconds, Mikan recovered from her shock and just turned around and went back to the kitchen.
"Daddy? What happened?" The little boy asked confused with the situation. As he looked back and forth from his mother then to his father.
Natsume just shook his head and headed to the living room. "So, what were you doing before I arrived?" he asked.
"I was watching Phineas and Ferb with Aunt Hotaru." He replied quickly. "You know I really missed you." Natsuki blurted out, making Natsume unprepared for a response.
Of course, he misses him too. He misses her too. But, he wasn't expecting that hearing such words from his child can make you speechless. So he just hugged Natsuki and whispered, "Me too."
They ate lunch together silently. No one talked much maybe because there was an awkward air between Natsume and Mikan and no one wanted to get in between. But of course, Natsuki was oblivious to that.
"Thank you Uncle Ruka for keeping your promise." He said to Ruka and everyone else at the table paused and stared at him, asking him with their looks what that meant.
Ruka made an uncomfortable smile, looking at all his friends. "It was our secret Natsuki." He sighed.
"What was that supposed to mean Ruka?" Mikan asked him.
"I'll tell you later, so let's just eat our lunch okay?" he tried to delay the conversation. Hotaru was surely going to smack him if she finds out, he told Natsuki about Natsume coming today.
Mikan not wanting to disrupt everyone's lunch, agreed and continued eating.
They were now sitting at the living room with Natsuki chatting endlessly so much like Mikan…before. He was sitting comfortably on Ruka's lap and talking enthusiastically with his father.
And Mikan seemed to have forgotten the secret between Ruka and Natsuki, just sat there watching his son rumble on with his stories.
"Mikan, do you want to ask something? You seem to be bothered." Hotaru noticed and asked, although she knew the obvious answer.
"Okay." She inhaled. "Why is Hyuuga here?" Mikan asked straight to the point.
Ruka gave Hotaru a look and Natsume did too, wondering the same thing.
"Is that a problem? He is Ruka's friend, is he not? And is also…nevermind." Hotaru answered, casually.
Natsume not wanting to waste the opportunity Imai had given him, took his chance. "Mikan, really need to talk." Mikan heard Natsume say and so did everyone in the room.
Mikan looked around and saw her son's face, curious. "Fine. But not here." Mikan got up and headed for the balcony while Natsume followed.
"Mikan, about what I said, it came out wrong." Natsume apologized first. He didn't want to mess this up too. "I never even for a second looked at Natsuki as a problem. He is my son and I want to be part of his life."
Mikan glanced at Natsume for a second and quickly looked away. "Why? You don't have to. We have managed well without you." She stated a fact.
"Don't be like this Mikan." He pleaded. "I want to be a good father and it is an opportunity for me to be one if you give me chance. Let me take care of both of you." Natsume took Mikan's hands, feeling the softness of her palms and how it used to cling to him freely.
Mikan pulled away and crossed her arms. "I've been thinking about it these past days and I haven't really found the answer I can give you." She meant the marriage proposal. "But if ever I will marry you, it is for Natsuki and not for me or for you." Mikan said not looking straight in Natsume's crimson eyes. Her heart was driving her crazy, afraid that it might betray her.
"I'll wait then. I want to marry you Mikan and I hope you just trust on that." Natsume reassured her. He wanted to be part of his son's life and live a happy family life with those whom he loves. Was life so unfair that it couldn't even give him that?
Mikan nodded and went back to her friends. Natsume stayed a little longer.
"That was quite short." Ruka said as Mikan came back.
"Mikan" Hotaru went to her. "It is your decision to make but follow what this says. They give us the best answers." Hotaru told her, pointing on her chest, telling Mikan to follow her heart. "You used to tell me that before."
Mikan gave her a smile and hugged Hotaru. "Thank you, Hotaru. I'll remember that." She pulled away. "But Natsuki and I will be going now."
"Now? Isn't it too really?" Natsuki complained, pouting and not making a move.
"Come on Natsuki. You saw your father already didn't you?" Ruka helped and that made him smile.
"Okay, can I say goodbye to daddy first?" he asked his mother. Mikan nodded and watched as her son ran off to where Natsume is.
On the way home, they were silent. Mikan deep in her thoughts with Natsume's and Hotaru's words playing on her mind.
"Mommy?" he called her. "Don't you love daddy?" he asked so innocently. "I heard Uncle Ruka and Aunt Hotaru talk about daddy wanting to be with me." Oh, sweet little boy. "It would be great to have a daddy, don't you think?" Natsuki smiled.
"Natsuki, I know you want to see him everyday but…" Mikan sighed. She can't explain much further anymore. "It's not your fault I'm having my doubts. It's me who's afraid to be involve with him again and falling in love." Mikan thought sadly as he watched her son's smile.
Mikan was confused and doesn't know what to do. That night, she just cried and hoping that her father was still alive telling her what to do. She remembered what her father told her,
"If fate doesn't answer then it is an answer for you to make your own fate."
"So, thus that mean that fate is just watching me?" Mikan asked to the thoughts of her own that was wrapped deep down with indecision.
Do you believe in fate and destiny? Honestly, I'm caught in between. I mean, we can always write our own right?
So my dear readers, don't let the obstacles of life stop you and let 'fate' dictate what or who you should be. Our life's story is not written on stone. We make our own choices and that is what makes us.
Be inspired and always live life fully!
Don't forget to review! Thank you!
-ECO
